The event will be held just shy of the one-year anniversary of Bruno’s indictment on federal corruption charges. It’s just three weeks before the start of the Winter Olympics, which provides it with a pricing theme:

Gold level donation: $1,000

Silver level donation: $500

Bronze level donation: $250

The event is co-sponsored by local real estate developer John Nigro and Albany Medical Center chief James Barba, who were also co-signers of a letter soliciting contributions for the fund. As Brendan Lyons reported Nov. 1:

”No one has done more to fight for us here in New York state than Joe,” the letter states. ”Now the time has come for us to help him in his fight.”

Nigro said he doesn’t know who has the key to the Albany post office box listed as the place for supporters to send money. ”All contributions will be kept private and are not reported publicly,” the letter reads.

”I and several of us, many of us people who have benefited in the Capital Region just felt we need to say something and give something back,” Nigro said of his decision to sign the letter. ”We’re a believer, a firm believer, that this is going no place but unfortunately it will cost him a lot of money to get there. We feel an obligation for all that he’s done for our families and our futures.”